{"id":339141,"date":"2026-05-22T23:50:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T18:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=339141"},"modified":"2026-05-22T23:50:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T18:20:38","slug":"australian-man-dead-after-400-metre-fall-during-hike-on-perus-inca-trail-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/22\/australian-man-dead-after-400-metre-fall-during-hike-on-perus-inca-trail-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian man dead after 400-metre fall during hike on Peru\u2019s Inca trail – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

An Australian man has died in Peru after falling from a path while walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, in response to local authorities.<\/p>\n

Members of the High Mountain Rescue Unit in the town of Cusco, where Machu Picchu is positioned, found the body of 52-year-old Matthew Cameron Paton, a Victoria Police Department sergeant, on Thursday about 400 metres down a steep slope near the \u201c50 Gradas\u201d section of the trail, in response to local outlet TVPer\u00fa Noticias<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Paton had been reported missing on Wednesday after he fell through a broken railing while mountain climbing the Peruvian mountain trail with a gaggle of tourists and a guide, police told BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cusco Police Region Chief General Virgilio Velasquez told TVPer\u00fa Noticias that police have \u201cinformation indicating that he apparently tripped while crossing a picket bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHe likely tried to carry onto the picket railing, nevertheless it gave way and he slipped into the abyss together with it. Unfortunately, he fell down the ravine,\u201d Velasquez added.<\/p>\n

The police chief said that Paton\u2019s body could be transferred to the town of Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Velasquez said that Paton was along with his wife on the time of the accident, they usually had each arrived in Peru as a part of a visit.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Get\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

Get every day National news<\/h2>\n

Get every day Canada news delivered to your inbox so you will never miss the day’s top stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cOn the time of the accident, he was accompanied by his wife, with whom he had come from Australia. The deceased was a police officer by career, they usually were in Cusco for 12 days as tourists,\u201d Vel\u00e1squez added.<\/p>\n

Authorities are investigating the explanation for the autumn.<\/p>\n

\n

Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Global News has reached out to the Cusco Police Region and the High Mountain Rescue Division of the National Police of Peru for further comment, but has not received a response.<\/p>\n

The Victoria Police Department confirmed Paton\u2019s death in an announcement to Global News, saying, \u201cVictoria Police confirms one in all its members has tragically died after a fall while trekking the Inca Trail in Peru.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSergeant Matt Paton\u2019s body was sadly found this morning. We’re involved along with his wife Jane who was with him on holiday and family are flying to Peru from Australia. Local authorities are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy,\u201d police added, noting that the Australian consulate, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Federal Police are assisting within the investigation.<\/p>\n

\u201cVictoria Police is doing every little thing in its power to offer whatever support it could,\u201d the statement continued. \u201cMatt, 52, joined Victoria Police in 2009, initially serving at Cranbourne and Rosebud police stations before becoming an instructor on the Victoria Police Academy in 2017.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Victoria Police Department said that Paton\u2019s passion for teaching recruits led to numerous other roles, including facilitating training for police responding to mental health events.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was recently chosen for a senior sergeant position and was resulting from start within the role next month,\u201d police added.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t